If there’s a trademark for ZUS Coffee in the PVL on Tour, it’s the team's ability to deliver when matches go the distance.
The Thunderbelles have played five five-setters in the tournament, four of which they’ve won in dramatic fashion.
While many of those matches had the Jerry Yee-led squad clawing back from early deficits, ZUS Coffee has also shown great composure in holding off its opponents.
Are the Thunderbelles the new five-set queens in the PVL? Here’s a look at their five-setters in the preseason showcase.
1. ZUS Coffee vs Akari (July 5, 2025)
Their first taste of a decider came last July 5, when the Thunderbelles nearly completed a big fightback against the Akari Chargers at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
After dropping the first two sets, ZUS Coffee forced a fifth but just fell short as Akari won, 26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 17-25, 17-15.
2. ZUS Coffee vs Capital1 (July 6, 2025)
The following day, the Thunderbelles got their breakthrough, outlasting the Capital1 Solar Spikers, 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11, to enter the win column.
Rookie AC Miner stepped up for ZUS Coffee in the win with 18 points.
“Five set today, and yesterday, pero nanalo today. I think mas malayo pa mararating ng team this season,” said Miner.
[ALSO READ: AC Miner happily adjusting to PVL play with ZUS after ‘overwhelming’ debut in Montalban]
3. ZUS Coffee vs Creamline (July 19, 2025)
The next test came against the powerhouse Creamline Cool Smashers.
Last July 19 in Iloilo City, the Thunderbelles stunned the Cool Smashers with a 24-26, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11 victory, proving they could match up against the perennial PVL title contenders.
Chinnie Arroyo fired 23 big points, built off 22 attacks and one service ace, to anchor the victory.
“Lahat naman po gusto namin panalunin and well, parang challenge din po ito samin eh kasi champion team po and kami nag-start lang naman kami sa mababa,” said Arroyo.
"Hindi pa po kami sobrang matagal magkasama, so super happy po kasi talagang ang sarap manalo."
[ALSO READ: PVL: Chinnie Arroyo proud of team effort as ZUS Coffee upsets mighty Creamline]
4. ZUS Coffee vs Chery Tiggo (July 29, 2025)
In the final day of the preliminaries, the Thunderbelles denied the Chery Tiggo Crossovers an outright quarterfinals seat, pulling off a 19-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 15-6 win, at Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
At this point, Miner and the rest of ZUS Coffee were already acclimated to what it will take to secure the decisive 5th set.
“Siguro naging puhunan lang namin is hindi kami tumigil nung sets na pinanalo namin lalo na nung fourth set kasi kung hindi namin binigay 'yung best namin du'n sa set na 'yun, malamang tapos na pero binigay namin hanggang sa dulo,” said Miner.
“So gaya ng sabi ni Ate Clo [Mondoñedo], hindi naman lahat ng team gusto mag-fifth set pero when fifth set na lang 'yung choice, bubuhisin na namin lahat pagdating ng fifth set,” she added.
[ALSO READ: ZUS Coffee getting accustomed to five-setters, seeks consistency ahead of PVL on Tour play-ins]
5. ZUS Coffee vs Choco Mucho (August 5, 2025)
Finally, in their most crucial PVL on Tour match yet, the Thunderbelles rallied from two sets down to knock out the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 22-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-10, and book a spot in the quarterfinals.
When it mattered most, ZUS Coffee turned to none other than its veteran leader Jovelyn Gonzaga, who finished with 16 points and drilled the game-winning attack.
“Siguro tumatak na lang sa isip sa amin na ilaro na lang namin ‘yung laro namin,” said Gonzaga. “Kasi very stiff kami noong first and second set. Hindi kami maka-execute ng plan na kailangan namin i-execute. Kaya noong third set inenjoy na lang namin.”
[ALSO READ: Five-set queens? Jovelyn Gonzaga lauds ZUS Coffee’s growing composure in PVL on Tour]
From early heartbreak to clutch victories, ZUS Coffee has turned five-setters into its specialty. And while the Thunderbelles continue to form their identity, they've shown that they are a squad that will refuse to back down when the match is on the line.